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AIBU?

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Original poster

Breastfeeding rights at work - please clarify for me please! I start in 3 days!

243 replies

carrie3003 · 14/10/2025 20:42

Returning to work part time after 10.5 months mat leave. Breastfeeding.

It is a new job (bank hours so 0 hour contract I can work when I like). Not worked there before.

First shift and induction is on Friday morning for 6 hours - a 20 minute break.

I have emailed and said my baby will be brought to me around 10/11am for a feed. (I read online that you need to tell your employer in writing you’re breastfeeding so that’s why I emailed)

They have just emailed back:

“That’s fine, we can look to work your break around that time if that’s ok with you”

I don’t have to use my break for this do I?
Surely as a breastfeeding mother I am entitled to my full break for me and a 10 minute breastfeeding “break” for my baby?
They can’t make me use my break to breastfeed can they?

What do I reply? It’s really shocked me as I thought she would just reply saying “yeah that’s fine”

Please tell me I’m not mad. AIBU? I need clarification on my rights and what to say back.

Not keen on returning to work as it is and now this has pushed me even more to just not go!

Thank you in advance lovely ladies xx

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
party4you · 15/10/2025 17:24

NotMeekNotObedient · 15/10/2025 11:35

Reading this makes me feel so lucky. I agree that what they are doing is completely legal and actually pretty accommodating. Is that break your lunch? Might be hard to eat and breastfeed!

However there definitely are (probably rare) employers out there who let you take the time you need. I just used to take myself off to pump as needed, around meetings, as many as I needed, I never informed my manager.

I think it's much harder to have this kind of arrangement as a new employee.

I think it really depends on the job too - me being away from my desk for a few mins made absolutely no difference to my work or that of my colleagues. The work was always on me to get done and they were realistic about easing me back into work anyway.

Thankfully DD started nursery and never asked for milk there, so I didn't need to pump past the first month really. On my days off she still had milk in the day. They are very adaptable OP.

My advice is to try the job and see how you get on.

This is different to what the OP wants to do though, they’re bringing the baby in to feed not just pumping.

party4you · 15/10/2025 17:23

preferteatocoffee · 15/10/2025 13:14

Yup 1 hour for an 8hr working day.

Part-time workers are also entitled to breastfeeding breaks. This is calculated on a pro-rata basis (proportionate to the breaks you would get if you worked full-time)

Show quote history

Yes which OP is getting, if you’re on a 6 hour shit you wouldn’t normally get a break.

Changingnameagain · 15/10/2025 16:58

AnotherNameChange1234567 · 15/10/2025 16:52

Please quote/link to where there is a legal right to breastfeed at work and/or for additional breaks to do so.

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I've tried to explain it is driven through the risk assessment they must legally be given as breastfeeding employees.
See link below. The risk assessment and Health and Safety at work act 1974 is what gives her the legal right and entitlement to ensure her health is protected.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/employer/rest-breastfeeding-at-work.htm

https://neu.org.uk/latest/library/breastfeeding-women-work-guidance-members

The link above is also very good and comprehensive

Protecting pregnant workers and new mothers: employers - Rest and breastfeeding at work

https://www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/employer/rest-breastfeeding-at-work.htm

AnotherNameChange1234567 · 15/10/2025 16:52

Changingnameagain · 15/10/2025 06:31

And I think you- and several other posters on here- are displaying the most vile and antiquated attitudes to OP. OP has a legal right to have her breastfeeding accommodated whether you like it or not, whether you did it or not and whether you've heard of it or not. I'm shocked by some of the ignorance and unpleasantness on this thread. Do better.
We have some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, despite the fact WHO recommends breastfeeding until 2 years (in addition to solid food from 6 months).

OP you need that risk assessment done before you return to work as that is what legally will drive and force the accommodations you need. Contact your HR to remind them you need one doing before your return to work.
Make clear what your feeding/pumping needs are to avoid risk of mastitis and ensure they are put down. Health and Safety Executive website also has information about employers legal duties to breastfeeding employees.

Show quote history

Please quote/link to where there is a legal right to breastfeed at work and/or for additional breaks to do so.

FirstdatesFred · 15/10/2025 15:05

VikaOlson · 14/10/2025 21:31

Just from a childcare point of view, I think your baby may find it quite distressing to be brought to you for 5/10 minutes for a quick feed then whipped away again.

There's some info here about your rights: https://www.nct.org.uk/information/life-parent/support-change/breastfeeding-and-returning-work

I really agree with this.
Aside from the legalities consider if it's really in their best interests as separation anxiety is quite a thing at that age.

preferteatocoffee · 15/10/2025 13:14

party4you · 15/10/2025 07:23

Notice how they said EIGHT hours, though.

Show quote history

Yup 1 hour for an 8hr working day.

Part-time workers are also entitled to breastfeeding breaks. This is calculated on a pro-rata basis (proportionate to the breaks you would get if you worked full-time)

Peonies12 · 15/10/2025 11:39

I went back to work at 11 months and baby is fine without BF for an 8 hour day at nursery / with her grandma. I'd be tempted to try without it. At that age, they can eat / drink water and compensate when you're back with them. i just feed before work/after work/at bedtime/at night. She is getting plenty..

NotMeekNotObedient · 15/10/2025 11:35

Reading this makes me feel so lucky. I agree that what they are doing is completely legal and actually pretty accommodating. Is that break your lunch? Might be hard to eat and breastfeed!

However there definitely are (probably rare) employers out there who let you take the time you need. I just used to take myself off to pump as needed, around meetings, as many as I needed, I never informed my manager.

I think it's much harder to have this kind of arrangement as a new employee.

I think it really depends on the job too - me being away from my desk for a few mins made absolutely no difference to my work or that of my colleagues. The work was always on me to get done and they were realistic about easing me back into work anyway.

Thankfully DD started nursery and never asked for milk there, so I didn't need to pump past the first month really. On my days off she still had milk in the day. They are very adaptable OP.

My advice is to try the job and see how you get on.

3luckystars · 15/10/2025 08:06

Just a different angle and nothing to do with the breastfeeding side of things, I was totally fine returning to work after maternity leave (I did dread it but when the day came, I was actually ready) and I was absolutely grand until lunch times when I would go out for my break and see children and mothers with their babies together out shopping.

This used to rally upset me. I can’t imagine how upset I would have been if I had to hold my own baby and then hand it back after 10 minutes and go back to work in the middle of the day. I would have been gutted.
There is no way I would have managed the second half of the work day, it would have really disrupted me and I probably would have been bawling my eyes out every day.

Sorry if that’s unhelpful but it was my experience and I found returning to work completely fine and enjoyed it, but seeing other children just reminded me about
what I was missing out on at home.

Gloriia · 15/10/2025 07:55

If I was starting a zero hour bank job I'd be as flexible as the contract and bf/express when off.

Different if returning to a full time 9 til 5 job but you can surely work bf/expressing around your hours. I think it is fine to bf, if you have to at work, in your break.

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 15/10/2025 07:31

Ladyzfactor · 14/10/2025 22:17

Would anyone be able to find a link for this one? I'm still annoyed at the woman who brought her noisy toddler to a class where we were doing final presentations. I have no idea what our professor was thinking giving that the ok.

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https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/feminism/5419739-bringing-a-newborn-to-university-lectures?page=1

party4you · 15/10/2025 07:23

TJk86 · 14/10/2025 22:55

This is the case in many other civilised countries. Only in the UK we are obsessed with separating the baby from their parents and to get the parents working and paying taxes asap without any consideration given to the wellbeing of the babies.

Show quote history

Notice how they said EIGHT hours, though.

dancingbymyself · 15/10/2025 07:12

It’s quite odd that you didn’t even check if my was okay for your baby to be brought to your work…

What you have asked for is genuinely unprecedented, in my experience, and I agree they have been very accommodating.

ThejoyofNC · 15/10/2025 07:10

Minnie798 · 15/10/2025 07:05

OP has a legal right to have her breastfeeding accommodated whether you like it or not

I don't think this is the case at all. Numerous posters have provided links that do not say this .

This attitude (the quoted text) seems increasingly common these days. Like breastfeeding makes you completely untouchable and you can do whatever you want. It's going to end up doing more harm than good because people are not satisfied with reasonable adjustments and think that they are entitled to make completely unreasonable demands.

Minnie798 · 15/10/2025 07:05

OP has a legal right to have her breastfeeding accommodated whether you like it or not

I don't think this is the case at all. Numerous posters have provided links that do not say this .

mixedcereal · 15/10/2025 07:02

Not that this makes any difference in a legal sense but what kind of job is it?

is it one that if your on a break then cover is required (eg being on the shop floor) or one that it doesn’t really make any difference to anyone else whether you are there or not?

whether within legal rights or not I would expect most employers try and accommodate this but has to be within reason. I imagine it won’t help that you’re a new employee (not that this is right) but you don’t have those relationships and “earned flexibility” that other people might have from having already been in a role.

from their perspective, if you’re expecting allowances to be made, then it’s very unreasonable for you to have only given 3 days notice for this / if this allowance has an impact on other staff

TeenLifeMum · 15/10/2025 06:43

TJk86 · 14/10/2025 22:55

This is the case in many other civilised countries. Only in the UK we are obsessed with separating the baby from their parents and to get the parents working and paying taxes asap without any consideration given to the wellbeing of the babies.

Show quote history

I’m mean, USA maternity leave is 3 months whereas in the uk we are allowed a year. I hope op can make it work her expectations may not work for the company.

TwinklyStork · 15/10/2025 06:36

Changingnameagain · 15/10/2025 06:31

And I think you- and several other posters on here- are displaying the most vile and antiquated attitudes to OP. OP has a legal right to have her breastfeeding accommodated whether you like it or not, whether you did it or not and whether you've heard of it or not. I'm shocked by some of the ignorance and unpleasantness on this thread. Do better.
We have some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, despite the fact WHO recommends breastfeeding until 2 years (in addition to solid food from 6 months).

OP you need that risk assessment done before you return to work as that is what legally will drive and force the accommodations you need. Contact your HR to remind them you need one doing before your return to work.
Make clear what your feeding/pumping needs are to avoid risk of mastitis and ensure they are put down. Health and Safety Executive website also has information about employers legal duties to breastfeeding employees.

Show quote history

OP has a legal right to have her breastfeeding accommodated whether you like it or not

That’s as maybe but as far as I know she doesn’t have the legal right to waltz into a new job and immediately start demanding that “my baby will be brought to me at 10/11 am”.

The employer has actually said “that’s fine” and accommodated that crazy request, yet she’s still
moaning it’s not good enough!

Changingnameagain · 15/10/2025 06:34

AnotherNameChange1234567 · 14/10/2025 22:38

This is from the ACAS website:

Breastfeeding

If you're breastfeeding, you may need to:

  • rest
  • express milk
  • store expressed milk
By law, your employer must provide somewhere suitable for you to rest.

They're not legally required to provide somewhere for you to express or store milk.

However, it's a good idea for them to provide facilities, such as a private room and a fridge to store the milk.

Read NHS advice on breastfeeding and going back to work

Show quote history

This is health and safety executive website. The OP and all employees have legal protections under the Health and safety at work act 1974
That's why the breastfeeding risk assessment is legally required and of paramount importance

www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/employer/rest-breastfeeding-at-work.htm

Breastfeeding rights at work - please clarify for me please! I start in 3 days!
Changingnameagain · 15/10/2025 06:31

Jamesblonde2 · 14/10/2025 22:20

Yes but why not pump? You’re very entitled.

Show quote history

And I think you- and several other posters on here- are displaying the most vile and antiquated attitudes to OP. OP has a legal right to have her breastfeeding accommodated whether you like it or not, whether you did it or not and whether you've heard of it or not. I'm shocked by some of the ignorance and unpleasantness on this thread. Do better.
We have some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, despite the fact WHO recommends breastfeeding until 2 years (in addition to solid food from 6 months).

OP you need that risk assessment done before you return to work as that is what legally will drive and force the accommodations you need. Contact your HR to remind them you need one doing before your return to work.
Make clear what your feeding/pumping needs are to avoid risk of mastitis and ensure they are put down. Health and Safety Executive website also has information about employers legal duties to breastfeeding employees.

TJk86 · 15/10/2025 00:00

BeLilacSloth · 14/10/2025 22:56

So every employer needs to let all children of their employees in to the work place and be expected to pay mothers to look after their own children rather than work. Yes, sad state of affairs that

Show quote history

Other countries manage it just fine.

LondonLady1980 · 14/10/2025 23:37

When I returned to work I was still breastfeeding and I did 13 hours shifts as a nurse.

I was allowed to take 3 additional breaks a day to pump (20 minutes each time), as well as taking my scheduled breakfast and lunch breaks.

I worked at a hospital who were working towards their Baby Friendly Standards award though so it would be pretty hypocritical of them to be shouting out about how much they supported breastfeeding and wanted to promote the importance of enabling mothers to breastfeed, but then not let their own staff express when needed.

From reading some of these stories I think I was very lucky.

AlexisP90 · 14/10/2025 23:22

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 14/10/2025 23:17

Here you go.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/feminism/5419739-bringing-a-newborn-to-university-lectures

Show quote history

Oh wow I didnt see this thread.

It actually blows my mind that was a genuine question.

How the hell can you expect to be able to concentrate on uni with a baby. Or expect anyone else to. I admire the OP for wanting to better herself and continue her studies but what a crazy thing to expect is ok.

Damn I should have asked my work if I could bring my screaming baby back to work with me when I went back when he was 6 months. Would have saved £££ in nursery fees...